The federal government has appointed Mr Justin Mohamed as Australia's inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People.
Mr Mohamed will lead the Office of First Nations Engagement in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Special Envoy Senator Pat Dodson announced the appointment in a joint statement on Tuesday.
The government said the Office of First Nations Engagement and the foreign affairs and trade department will work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people "to progress Indigenous rights globally, and help grow First Nations trade and investment".
The joint statement said that "elevating the perspectives of First Nations people – this land's first diplomats – enables deeper engagement with many of our closest partners including the Pacific family".
The new position marks the first time Australia will have dedicated Indigenous representation in international engagement.
Mr Mohamed, a Gooreng Gooreng man from Bundaberg, Queensland, brings a strong connection to community.
Currently Deputy Secretary of Aboriginal Justice in the Victorian Government, Mr Mohamed has worked for decades in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, social justice and reconciliation, in roles spanning the Aboriginal community, government and corporate sectors.
Mr Mohamed said he felt honoured to be appointed as the inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People and "excited about the opportunities ahead to embed First Nations voices and knowledge into Australia's foreign policies and trade".
"I am looking forward to sitting down and listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country, as we develop foreign policies that have First Nations People's knowledges, voice and connection to country front and centre," he said.
Mr Mohamed will commence as Ambassador in April.
He was previously Chief Executive Officer for Reconciliation Australia, Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, and has represented Indigenous organisations internationally, including at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
